John and Julia recognised for their work at Whitstable RNLI

John and Julia Hill of Herne Bay have been involved with the station fundraising activities since 2007 by helping to staff the station souvenir shop and café, manning stalls at outside events and holding fund-raising garden parties and coffee mornings at their home in Herne Bay.

But more recently John, a retired draughtsman from the aircraft industry, took over managing the station shop on the untimely death of Diane Lamberton, the then Chairman of the fundraising team in 2017 and, helped by Julia, a retired accountants assistant the pair, supported by fellow fundraising team volunteers have maintained the shop and café profile not only locally but within the RNLI bringing in essential funds in support of the Whitstable Lifeboat.

Speaking at a presentation held in the boathouse on Wednesday, Tatty McNally, Visitor Experience Manager for the RNLI in making the presentation to John and Julia quoted the inscription on the Chief Executive Award certificate “The Chairman and Council of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution wish to record their sincere thanks to John and Julia Hill In recognition of the dedicated support you have provided to the Whitstable shop”.

“Since John took on the role of shop manager you have overcome challenging circumstances to create a well-managed thriving shop and café achieving a 20% increase in profits in the first year alone”.

“Ready to embrace new ideas and innovative in approach, your tireless efforts are appreciated by all. Additionally, your fundraising garden parties and souvenir selling visits have helped raise vital funds. Your invaluable contribution over the years has helped the RNLI to continue to save lives at sea”.

Ends.

Notes to editors

Whitstable RNLI Lifeboat Station was established in 1963 by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution and is one of 237 lifeboat stations around the shores of the UK and Ireland. The volunteer crews provide a maritime search and rescue service for the Kent coast. They cover the area between the Kingsferry Bridge on the Swale, in the west, around the south-eastern side of Sheppey and along the coast through Whitstable and Herne Bay to Reculver in the east and outwards into the Thames Estuary.

The station is equipped with an Atlantic 85 lifeboat named Lewisco, purchased through a bequest of a Mrs Lewis of London who passed away in 2006.

She is what is known as a rigid inflatable inshore lifeboat, the boat’s rigid hull being topped by an inflatable sponson. She carries a crew of four people.

RNLI media contacts

• Chris Davey, Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer, Whitstable Lifeboat Station.
  07741 012004/ [email protected]

• Paul Dunt RNLI Press Officer London/southeast/east Tel: 0207 6207416 Mob: 07785 296252 [email protected]

Key facts about the RNLI

The RNLI charity saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland coasts. The RNLI operates 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and more than 240 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK and Channel Islands. The RNLI is independent of Coastguard and government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824, its lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved over 146,000 lives.

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Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries

Members of the public may contact the RNLI on 0300 300 9990 (UK) or 1800 991802 (Ireland) or by email.